Train-control apparatus



April 13 11926.

F. J. SPRAGUE TRAIN CONTROL APPARATUS Original Fi l'ed Dec- 31 1914 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 QJW [N VEN TOR.

A TORNEYS.

April 13 1926. 1,581,094

F. .J. SPRAGUE TRAIN CONTROL APPARATUS Original F l Dem 151. 1914 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 ]NV 'ENTOR. WJm BY nrq TTOR/VEYS.

April 13, 1926. 1,581,094

.--F. Q J. SPRAGUE TRAIN- COPITROL APPARATUS Original Filed Dec. 31, 1914 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR.

/ B y M A ZORNEYS.

A ril 13, 926,

' 1 1,581,094 F. J. SPRAGUE TRAIN CONTROL APPARATUS Original Fil'ed Dec. 31, 1914 6 t -Sheet 4 IN VEN T OR.

M I A' TORNEYS.

F. J. SPRAGUE TRAIN CONTROL APPARATUS April 13 192 1,581,094

Original Filed Dec. 31, 1 914 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR ATTORN EYS April 13 1926. V 1,581,094 F- .J. SPRAGUE TRAIN CONTROL APPARATUS original Filed Dec, 51, 1914 e Sheets-Sheet 6 HVVENTOR. M l-mq A TOR/VEYS.

Patented Apr. 13,

UNITED STATES FRANK J. SPBAGUE, 01 NEW- YORK, N. Y.,

ASSIGNOR TO SPRAGUE SAFETY OONTBOL AND SIGNAL CORPORATION, A CORPORATION OF VIRGINIA.

TRAIN-CONTROL APPARATUS.

Original application filed December 81,1914 Serial No. 879,938. Divided and Hill application filed September 80, 1925. Serial No. 59,564.

To all whom z'tmay concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK J. SPRAGUE, a, citizen of the United States, residing at New York, in the'county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Train Control Apparatus, is a specification.

This application is filed as a divisional of my prior application filed December 31st, 1914, Ser. No. 879,939, for method of and of which the following apparatus for control of train'movement,

and the subject-matter hereof forms a part of the apparatus disclosed in the aforesaid prior application.

The purpose of my present invention is I to provide suitable automatic and trackactuated devices associated and cooperating with standard braking equipment, for ex ample the \Vestinghouse valve, by means of which the brake pipe of the braking system ,may be automatically vented without interference with further and additional venting thereof through the usual manual means.

Other objects of my invention will appear from the following specification and claims.

- trolled a feed valve by The automatic air brake system upon which my invention is herein shown as superimposed, is the ordinary form embracing what is known as the Westinghouse G6 engineers valve, this valve beingchosen for simplicity of illustration and Without intended limitation. It comprises the following elements: 7 (a) One or more main reservoirs of large capacity carried on the locomotive, in which is normally maintained a volume of air under high ressure, varying on difierent equipments om 90 to 130 pounds, which air is supplied by an automatically consteam or electric pump.

' b) A pipe system consistlng of air pipes individual to each car,-joined continuously from car to car by detachable flexible hose couplings, this system being supplied with pressure air from the main reservoir through which the air therein is normally maintained at a fixed pressure usually 10 or more pounds less than that of the main reservoir.

(c) The engineers valve, with its equalizing chamber and reservoir, is connected feed valve into the brake pipe to make up any loss, and to maintain therein a fairly constant pressure; release themain reservoir is permitted to flow directly through the brake pipe system to charge it after it has been exhausted; which, with the two remaining positions, is oppositely disposed from the release position, when all ports in the rotary valve are blanketed, there bein no feeding of air from the main reservolr into the brake pipe and.no escape of air from the equalizing reservoir; service, when the air supe plied from the main reservoir through the feed valve is blanketed from the brake pipe, and air from the latter is permitted to escape into free air through a port controlled by an equalizing piston which is indirectly controlled by the through differential air pressures; and final; ly, emergency position in which the air from the main reservoir through the feed when air from rotary element of the valve valve is blanketed from the brake pipe, but

is allowed free escape (e) Auxiliary reservoirs individual a5- each car, normally charged with air at the same pressure of the brake pipe" and through the triple valves supplying air directly to the (f) Plain necting links between the-brake pipes, auxlliary reservoirs, brake cylinders and. free The construction and fun'c-' atmosphere. tions of these valves are well known to those versed in the art. i

brake cylinders when required; or quick-action triple valves i'n-Q dividual to each car, these forming'the'con at upon the handling o the air gauge, one in- Du lex indicatin' (g) P with and showi dicator being connecte the airpressure in the main-reservoir, an the other connected with and showing the air pressure in the equalizing reservoir, as well, normally, as that in the rake pipe, the latter lagging slightly during reduction.

Various modifications of the above outlined air braking are extant-includingyamong others the adjunct of straight air raking and independent locomotive braking wit slight chan es in the system to meet these adjuncts; a so ration of the brake system by, electrica control; but for the purpose of this application it is not necessary to describe these in detail although my system is applicable to practically all of them.

All of the operations of braking, whether the making of small or large service appli-' cations of air or full emergency applications, areefiected by variations of air pressure in the brake pipe, invariable times and amounts de nding upon the character of braking, an the release is effected by recharging the brake pipe and bringing its pressure back to-normal.

All normal :braking is initiated and controlled b the engineer throu h the engineers va ve', and such normal raking provides when brakes are applied, first, for cutting off connection between the main reservoirand the brake pipe stem; second,

service application of the bra es, controlled as to rate of application and amount of air reduction in the brake pipe, the time being perhaps half a minute and the reduction anywhere from 3 or 4 to or pounds; and third, emergency application by free exhaust' from the brake pipe to atmosphere, the time occupied being but a few seconds, and the resultant more violent braking being the maximum possible under the exthe service isting conditions of air pressure in the brake service applications on modern systems the engineer does not directly open an exhaustffrom the brake pipe to atmosphere, but he makes a more or less limited or restrictedopening from an equalizing chamber in the bottom of his valve, which is connected with the equalizing reservoir to get a vohime of air to handle, and thereby refinement in makin air reductions; this reduction of air int c equalizing chamber in turn lifts an equalizing piston by differential air pressure, WlllCll when lifted.-

opens the brake pipe to atmosphere throu h ort, and when, following-tie closure of the service controlling port in the engineers rotary valve, the air on the u per and lower sides of the equalizing isto'ncontrolling the service port 18 equalwed in pressure, the brake pipe opening is automatically closed.

' In making an emergency application, howmosphere.

ever, the engineers valve rovides for a dlrect ex1t from the brake pipe through a different and larger port, and the reduction of' air pressure 1n the brake pipe is 'very sudden. It acts first on the nearest car, and then, because not only of the air reduction due to the escape of air through the engineers valve, but likewise becauseof the emptying of part of the air of the brake pipe into the brake cylinder through the triple valve when suddenly operated under emergency conditions, there is effected a very quick reduction of air ressure in the second car, and so on in 'eaci car of the train in rapid sequence, the ap lication of the brakes under emergency app ication taking place,

not simultaneously (except where electric control isintroduced) but in very rapid succession, 40 or cars having emergency brakes applied in a very few seconds.

The construction and operation of the automatic air brake system will be more fully gone into in connection with the drawmovements or functions of the engineers brake valve, so far as'manual operation is concerned. Up to the time. an automatic application is initiated, and even then, it does I 'not interfere with the manual application of the brakes, though as hereafter pointed out, it tends for a period to oppose the relelasie1 of the brakes when automatically app 1e The automatic valve head is pneumatically operated but under electric control, for the purpose of placing the engineers valve handle and rotary valve in a non-changing position, preferably lap position immediatly prior to the automatic venting of the brake pipe, to avoid other than manual releasing of the brakes; and, in one form, through the movement'of its motor or drivin yoke, it opens an outlet or pilot valve to ree at- After the engineers valve handle and rotary. valve have-been automatically placed in lap position, they are so retained by neumat1c pressure fora period of time coincident with the energization of a-control-' ling magnet, after which the pneumatic pressure is again released. However, regardless of whether the pneumatic pressure brake head.

- sure pump,

is applied to or released from thebralie valve. handle and rotary valve, the latter.

can only be returned to manual operation Referring to the'accompanying drawings in which corresponding parts are designated by corresponding marks of reference Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view of an apparatus embodying my invention, form release position by ing the subject-matter of this divisional applicatlon.

Fig. 2 is a central vertical section of a standard. type of engineers valve, having mounted thereon in lieu of the standard hea myelectrically and pneumatically operated Fig. 3 is a plan view of thestructure shown in Fig.2 with the cover removed, the

' valve itself being in running position (having been moved to that position from re-- lease) inert.

Figs. {1 and 5 are fragmental but corre: sponding views, the valve in Fig. being now in lap position and its pneumaticactuator energized, while in Fig. 5 the valve has been manually thereafter placed. in emergency position.

Fig. 6 is asection through the controlling valve and the pneumatic actuator of the engineers valve.

and its pneumatic actuator being Fig. 7 is a plan and elevation of the driving yoke for the engineers valve.

1g. Sis a plan and elevation of the driven yoke.

v Fig. 9 is a plan and elevation of .one of the pistons of the actuator of the engineers valve.

- Fig. 10 is a 'plan and elevation of all of the connecting rods.

The automatic brake system" with my additions is illustrated in Figure 1. The main reservoir has a pipe connection 2 through which'air is deliveredinto it and compressed therein by an automatically controlled presnot shown. On the opposite side of the-main reservoir is a pipe connection 3, which leads from the main reservoir into with the passageway 5 in the engineers brake valve leading to chamber 6 in thetop thereof (see Fig. '2).

The actual construction of a portion of the standard G6 engineers brake valve, together with my additions thereto, is illustrated in Fig; 2, wherein the rotary valve 7.

rests on its seat 8. the rotary valve and ard construction in' respect to passageway 5 and chamber 6. p

Considering now Fig. 1, the chamber 6 is shown diagrammatically in the center of the rotary valve 7 and thevalve seat 8 is shown surrounding the periphery of the rotary element in place of beneath it, the rotar element itself being shown with radiating The casing 9 enclosing construction and operation are whe'els,.through the brake rigging, not shown.

its seat are of a stand- I passages and peripheral cavities in place of the more or less vertical corresponding elements in the physical construction shown in Fig. 2. The valve body 10 engineers brake valve contains passageways 11, 12, 13 and 14, and an emergency exhaust port 15, all communicatin directl withthe seat for the rotary valve In also chamber 16, which has no communication with the atmosphere except through the rotary valve, communication with the atmosphere through the emergency exhaust port1-5. The passageways 11 and '12 lead respectively to and from a feed valve 18. In the bottom. of the engineers valve is an equalizing Zpiston chamberlt). Passageways 13 and 14 lead to and from this chamber respectivel at the top thereof. This chamber also at ts to is provided with a port 20, and the bou'n ing walls of the chamber constitute a cylinder within which reciprocates an equalizing piston 21. The equalizing piston carries a service exhaust valve 22 which opens and closes a service exhaust port 23,.leading to atmosphere on the one s1de, and cating with a assageway 24,1eading tothe undersideof t e equalizing piston 21 and connecting also with the passageway- 12 to the valve and to the brakefpipe.

and a'chamber 17, which is in (Figure 1) of the i g is seat is communiradiating from chamber 6. and two cavities 29 and 30 on its periphery. Port 20 is the port by which communication is made'between the equalizing piston chamber 19 and the e ualizing reservoir by meansofa 'pe rake pipe is connected wit a triple valve by means of a pipe connection 35, and the tri 1e.- valve'is in turn connected with an auxi iary reservoir and a brake cylinder bymeans of port 39. The triple valve is the 7 connecting link between the brake pipe, the auxiliary reservoir, the brake cylinder and free atmosphere. Its general well known to those versed in the science of braking, and hence no detailed description of its operation is given here.

The spring retracted piston of a brake cylinder is shown at 40, this being the pistonwhich forces the brakeshoes against the car foundation gear of the The. duplex gauge 33 above referred to is suitably connected with I the main reservoir throu h a branch from. pipe 4 and with the equalizing reservoir through a branch from pi e 32.

Theurotary valve .7 is manipu ated by means or a spindle 42 (see Figs. 2 and 3-),

and while this is shown in my invention, with the spindle brake system. he engineers handle 43 attached tothe top as adapted for use it is practically identical of the spindle is the same of the'ordinary automatic *as t'hatused'in theordinary automatic brake systember 16 and 1s ing equa izm Considering" the ordinary practice and operation recited above with reference more specifically to Figure 1, the five positions of the G6 engineers brake valve'running, lap, service, emergency and release-are indicated as follows:

Running positionu Figure 1 the rotary valve 7 is shown diagrammatically in running position. The passageway 26 of the rotary element registers with the blind chamblanketed. The passageway 28 is also blanketed; but the passageway 27 re isters with the passageway 11in the va ve body, and thus permits the flow of air from the main reservoir into the feed valve 18, thence into the brake ipe through the passageways 12 and 24. The passageway 12 is in communication with passageway 13 throughthe cavity 29, thus permitting air fromthe feed valve to flow into the equaliziston chamber 19 and thence into the reservoir. Passagewap 14 and the emergency port 15 are both lanketed. The same pressure is then maintained in the equalizing piston chamber and the equalizing reservoir as in the brake pipe and beneath the equalizing piston 21, and the service exhaust, valve 22 is maintained in its downward position, closing the service port No air escapes from the brake pipe and the brakes are free.

Lap positi0n-.-When the brakehandle isr in the lap position (indicated in Fig. 4) the passageway 26 of the rotary valve registers V onl with the blind chamber 16 and is blanketc the passageways 27 and 28 are both blanketed. The passageways 11, 13 and 14, and the emer ency exhaust ort 15 are also blanketed. T ere is, there ore, no flow of air from the main reservoir into the brake ing to lap position from the service port 23 23 and after closing, it remains close pipe, or the equalizing piston chamber either directl "or throu h the feed valve, and no flow 0 air from t e equalizing piston chamher. On coming to lap position from service position the service exhaust valve 22, on equalization of pressure due to the drop of pressure in the rake pipe, is moved downward from the position 'it has at the commencement of the lap position of the engineers valve" by its wei ht and a slight excess-of total pressure 0 air above the equalizing piston, closingthe service exhaust rt as long as lap position is maintained; in comrunning position is already closed.

. Service oaition.-When the brake handle is in t e service position, indicated by dotted lines in Figs. 3, 4 and 5, the rotary valve has rotated further counter-clockwise until the passageway 14 registers with the cavity 30'. The passageway 26 registers with the blind cavity 16 and is still blanketed. The passageways 27 and 28 also remain blanketed; As in lap position, the main reservoir is thus cut off from the feed valve, brake pipe, equalizing piston chamber 19 and the equalizing reservoir. Y The passageway 13 is also blanketed, and since the cavity 30 registers both with passageway 14 and the emergency port 15 e e ualizing piston chamber and the equalizing reservoir are open to. atmosphere. Service position is normally reached from or through lap posihaust port 23 is closed.

When the engineer'makes a; service appli- .haust port 23 to atmosphere, allowing the air to escape therethrough from the brake pipe. The rapidity with which the equalizmg iston is thus raised depends upon the ra-pi ity with which the differential between the pressure on top of ,the equalizing piston and on the bottom of the equalizing piston is made. ,So long as the equalizin reservoir and the equalizing iston c amber are open to atmosphere by t e rotary valve being maintained in service position, the service exhaust port 23 will be held open, providedlthere isvsuflicient pressure in the rake pipe to maintain the equalizing pistion, i. e., a position in which the service ex- 1 ton in its upward position. The resulting 1 drop of pressure in the brake pipe effects a movement of the triple valve to close the opening of the brake cylinder to atmosphere and places the brake cylinder into connection with the auxiliary reservoir. so that pressure air therefrom enters the brake cyl-' inder and moves its piston to apply the brakes with'increasing pressure. This may continue until what is called the point of equalization is reached,.that is, when the air in the brake cylinder and in the auxiliary reservoir is at the same pressure. In ord1- nary operation, ice braking is effected before the point of equalization is reached. When the reduction desired in brake pipe pressure has been indicated. by the gauge connected-with the equalizing piston chamber and the equalizing reservoir, the engineer normally moves his handle into 'lap position. This movem'ent blankets the ports as heretofore described and the venting of air from the equalizing andv-when t e air inthe brake pipe is reiston chamber is discontinued.

however, the desired serv tion duced to the pressure or slightly below the pressure in the equalizing piston chamber, the piston moves downwardly and closes the exhaust port 23. Thus the movement from service position to lap position di'scontinues the bleeding of the equalizing piston chamber air and places a limit upon the reduction of air in the brake pipe.

While in lap position after having made a service application, there being no port open by which aircan enter or leave the brake pipe, the brakes will normally remain applied under this pressure until they have been released either by leakage, or by moving the rotary valve ordinarily into release (or possibly running) position, or until additional pressure has been applied. to them by again moving the rotary valve to service or emergency position.

Emergency position-The emergency osiof the engineers valve handle is i lustrated in Fig. 5. This is the extreme braking position of the valve, and it is only possible to come to it from or through service position by moving the rotary valve col-uterclockwise from the latter. ports in the rotary valve still blanketed, al-

' though in a slightly difierent position, so

that there is still no flow of pressure airinto the brake pipe and the main reservoir is not bled. The emergency exhaust port is connected through the cavity 29' with thepassageway 12 so that a free passage is open from the brake The exhaust port 15 is also connected by the chamber 17 and the cavity with the passageways 14: and 11. This results in relieving the pressure on the top of the equalizing piston and prevents a possible jamming of the service exhaust valve. If at the time a service application has been effected the rotary va'lveis moved to emergency position increased braking may be thereby caused.

Release p0sz'ti0n.The release position of the engineers valve handle is indicated by dotted lines in Figs. 3; 4: and '5. After the brakes have been applied it'is only possible to come. to release position from or-through running position, by moving the rotary valve clockwise until passageway 11 is blanketed and air from the main reservoir is prevented from flowing into the feed valve; passageway 26 and cavity 29 both re ister with chamber 16, cavity 29 also registers with passageways 13 and 12, and pas ageway 27 registers with passageway 14. Air thus flows freely from the main reservoir through passageways 13 and 14 to the equalizing piston chamber 19 and thence to the equalizing reservoir; and through passageways 12 and 24 into the brake pipe, recharging both the equalizing reservoir and the brake pipe, releasing the brakes in the Well known manner. Release and running positions may be regarded as the charging positions, in that This leaves the pipe to atmosphere.-

by reducing the emergency positions of the in both of them the main reservoir is either directly or indirectly throu h the feed valve, in communication with the rake pipe and a transfer of air takes place from the former to the latter to create or maintain therein the proper pressure. In a like manner, service and emergency positions are both braking ositions, in that they cause a reduction of rake pipe pressure, and together with la position may be termed non-charging positionsfin that in eachof these positions communication between the main reservoir, and the brake pipe, her, and equalizingreservoir is cut off.

The construction, function; and operation of the triple valves in controlling the'application and release of the brakes and of the feed valves in maintaining the difl'eren tial of ressure between the main reservoir and bra e pipe system are in no way changed or effected by theapplication of my inventhe equalizing piston chamtion; and the function and operation of the engineers brake valve in manually applying and releasing the brakes when no automatic action occurs are likewise in no way changed or effected by the application of my invention; and the details of these elements are not further illustrated or described herein,

tem just described, and as acting through that system in applying the brakes. As illustrated, the rotary valve casing 9, which is substituted for theupper valve body of the ordinary engineers which normally operatefon the spindle 42 to rotate the spindle and its attached rotary valve 7 to a non-charging position, -preferably into. lap position, this being supplemental to the engineers 1 to 5 this valve casing also contains means for effecting the initial outlet of air which effects a drop of pressure-in the brake pipe pressure in the equalizing reservoir and the equalizing piston chamber to cause equalizing piston 21 to raise and openthe service exhaust port 23. o For convenience reference is made to Patent No. 1,553,295, September 8, 1925, issued to me on a divisional application of the original application Ser. N o.v 879,939, for illustration of the lap, release, service and G6 en 'ineers valve above referred-to; also for a escription of the construction and operation. of the valve 228 which latter is not claimed herein. The engineers' automatic valve head, while maintaining in all respects the normal function of the engineers valve throu h the movement of the rotary valve therein y the valve, contains means handle. In Figures engineers handle to the various positions of service exhaust port '23, while -at the same The part 177 shown in outline has to do with making theinvention described and claimed in my original application Ser. No. 879,939, above identified, and forms no part of the invention of this divisional application. It is not described or claimed herein and for the purposes hereof pipes 124 and 154 may be considered as in open communication with each other.

The engineers automatic valve head is electrically controlled and mechanically as well as manually operated and maintains the rotary valve in a non-charging position, e. g., lap position, during the automatic application, so that no air escapes from the main reservoir and enters the brake system therefrom.

This device being interchangeable with the up er valve. body of the ordinary engineerfs va ve is con uently located in the engineers .cab. wine the normal function is as stated above, it in no way prevents the of manual brake ap lications through the manual movement 0 the engineers valve.

The construction of this valve head can conveniently be understood by referring to F i 2 to 10 in' connection with Figure 1.

ising 9 is a flanged cylindrical casting interchangeably bolted to the lower valve body 10 of the en 'neers valve. It is partitioned horizontal y, and the lower portion constitutes a cylindrical recess, forming the chamber 6 and constituting a cover for the rotary valve 7. Theupper portion of the casin comprises an irregular recess with a detac able cover 60 which may be secured ,in place in any appropriate manner. The

- valve stem 42 of the rotary valve passes through the artition, which, at this point, is made in t e form of and constitutes a bushing 61; thence through an aperture in the cover 60, above which the ordinary brake handle 43 is attached to the stem in the same manner as in the ordinary engineers valve. The exterior of casing 9 is provided with a notched sector 62, which has the same relative position in respect to the rotary valve and brake handle as in the ordinary en 'neers valve.

I ast integral with or fastened to the upper portion of the casing 9, are two motor cylinders 68- and 68, oppositely disposed but with axes parallel to each other. These cylinders are closed at' the outer ends but opened at the inner ends, and within them reciprocate suitably packed trunk pistons 69 rods 70 and 70 to a driving yoke 71 which is rotatively mounted on bushing 61. Pine 72, 72 project upwardly from the driving yoke an engage the driven yoke 73, which is uared upon the rotary valve stem above the ushing 61 and rotates the valve stem and with it the engineers brake handle and rotary valve counterclockwise when driven by the pins 72, 72. The driving yoke 71 is provided with an adjustable stop 74, 7 4' adjusted so that the limit of counterclockwise motion of the driving yoke laces the driven yoke. in lap position (see ig. 4), but because thedriving yoke engages the driven yoke onone side only the rotary valve is free to be moved manually, throu h its spindle and the engineers brake hanfle, to service or emergency position as may be desired. The motor cylinders and pistons are of each size that, while the rotary valveis moved to lap position and maintained there dur' automatic braking, it is not done so w i tfi such force as to make it impractical for the.

engineer to manuall move the rotary valve (carrying. with it t e two yokes) to either release or running position should he so desire, so that the action of the motor cylinders is subordinated to this manual operation.

The motor cylinders are pneumatically connected behind their respective pistons by pipes 7 5 and 7 5 which connect through a three way coupling with a pipe 76 leading to a controlling valve 80, through which provision is made to connect the motor cylinders either with atmosphere direct through the upper part of the valve, or to rewure air through the lower part of the va ve, supplied through a pipe 89, a throttling valve and a ipe 91 leading from the throttling valve to t e chamber 6, as is shown in Figs. 2 and. 3. As shown in Figure 1 the pipe 91 is directly connected with the pipe 4, a strainer 88 is interimposed on one side o the throttle and a capacity chamber 89' on seat 84' by spring 85, reinforced by air' pressure when the system is charged, and hence is normally closed; and in his position it lifts the upper poppet valve 83' from its seat 83'. and raises plunger 85. The contacting faces of the upper valve 83 and its plun er are also oppositely rounded. Converse y, when the upper poppet valve 83 is pressed are moved from their upper The th downward by valve seat 83' and is closed, the lower poppet valve is forced downward into its guide 86 and is opened. Both valves are enclosed in housings, in the upper of which provision is made for exit to atmosphere through ports 87, 87, and with the lower of which the throttling valve 90 and any capacity pipe or chamber if needed, is conveniently connected, as by pipe 89. To permit free circulation of air when the valves are opened their stems are flattened -on three sides, as indicated and the valves fit loosely in their respective housings.

The controlling valve, therefore, comprises in brief, two oppositely disposed 0ppet valves, arranged in tandem, one ofw ich is normally opened and the other of which is normally closed. The rounded surface of the valve stems. above mentioned eliminate possibly improper seating of the valve faces. The position of the valve shown in Fig. 6 is its running position, i. e., the valve is in readiness for operation to admit pressure air to the motor cylinders for an automatic application of'the brakes. When at rest no air from the main reservoir passes through the valve to the motor cylinders 68, 68, but air from the motor cylinders is allowed free escape to atmosphere past poppet valve 83 through the ports 87, 87. When the automatic braking is initiated the poppet valves or running position to their lower position, and the passageway from pipe 76 to atmosphere is then closed so that no air escapes from the motor cylinders, but air at main reservoir pressure is admitted to the motor cylinders through the open poppet valve 84.

lllustrated in Fig. 6 as an adjustable needle valve, governs the rate ofsup' ly of pressure air from the chamber 6 to dim cont'rollin valve and thence to the motor cylinders. In Figure 1 the pipe 89 is illustrated as being enlarged, forming a capacity reservoir 89'. This capacity reservoir merelyassures ample volume of air to act on the pistons 69 and 69 when the controlling valve 80 is thrown from normal to braking position, so as to promptly overcome the locking of the engineers handle on the sector notches. It permits a more liberal opening of the throttle valve without the danger of throwing the rotary valve past lap position.

A strainer or dust separator 88 should be provided in the air line preceding the throttling valve 90. This is grammatically in Figure 1.

An arm 95 lies over the plunger of the controlling valve and has one end pivotally mounted at to the casing 9, and its other .end is pivotally and adjustably attached'to an armature 96 through a link 97 and a screw piece 98. The

armature is actuated downthe plunger 85' against its ward by 'minals 106, 106' (F rottling valve 90, which is also indicated dia- I a solenoid 99 which, as illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3, is rigidly mounted in the upper portion of the casing 9, but the armature is normally held up in the position illustrated in Fig. 6 by the spring 85 of the controlling valve, reinforced by air pressure when the system is charged.- While thus shown as an integral part of the engineers brake head, it is evident that this controlling can constitute valve with its magnet control a separate piece of apparatus, it can be arranged to 0p stead of an open circuit method.

The solenoid 99 is connected as at ter- 4 lg. 3) with an electric circuit, shown in the upper right hand corner of Fig. 1.- This circuit is normally'opened at contact 463 when and also that crate on a closed in armature 452 is pivotally mounted, and is integral with an oppositely disposed contact member which normally closes a shunt at contact 451. a

The armature 452 is so disposed'as to be constantly iii-the field of a coil 433, and to ass, when the vehicle is in motion, into the the armature 452 is re -tracted from that contact by its spring. The

held of electromagnets 320 on the. track.

The coil 433 is in a closed circuit with the battery420 throughhand switch 497, pivot of armature 452 and a signal lamp. When the apparatus is in normal condition apart of the operative current to coil 433 passed through the contact 451, and the coil 433 is at'such time ineffective to attract its armature 452.

The track magnets 320 are controlled by the'traflic conditions ahead by suitable relays, through the wayside signals, or by any ot er suitable means, so that current is supplied thereto and the magnets excited when a caution or danger condition exists. err a vehicle equipped with my appag ratus moving in the direction of the arrow shown 1n Fig. 1, passes an excited track mag.

The armature 452 when once attracted to the coil 433 is held in the position an energized track magnet 320, the switch 497 is held open by the engineenthe movement of the armature 452 is without effect is bycoil 99 is then the pilot valve is opened.

suitably faced A seats against its head 120, which is ad1ustably ' jamming of the however, an impulse is received from an active magnet 320 prior to the manual opening of the switch 497, the coil 99 is energized, the valve 80 put in power supplying condition, the engmeers valve thrown to lap position, and the pilot valve 119 opened to cause a reduction of pressure in the equalizing reservoir and equalization piston chamber, and thus to apply the brakes. If thereafter the engineer moves the switch 497 to open position, while the circuit of the coil 99 is broken, and air is exhausted from behind the pistons 69 and 69', no change is effected -in the condition of the engineers valve nor in the pilot valve 119. Thus it is seen that while the switch 497 constitutes a and while it operates to reset the electrical apparatus, it does not operate to remove a braking once initiated by the movement of the armature 452 on passing a live track magnet.

When thesolenoid 99 is energized its armature is drawn down and the controlling valve 80 moved from inert free air (upper position) to active power supply (lower position) and is so maintained until the solenoid is de-energized when it returns to normal position and raises the armature as above described.

The parts 101, 102, 103, 104, 105, 105', 110, 111,112,113,113',115,11e and 185 shown in the drawings have to do with inventions described and claimed in" my original application, but form no part of the invention of this divisional appliciition. They are therefore not described or claimed herein and may be disregarded.

In addition to the function of the driving yoek'71 above described, it has the further function of opening a pilot valve to atmosforestalling means,

' phere causing a reduction of pressure in the equalizing chamber and equalizing reservoir. This pilot valve 119, which is illustrated as a spring closed poppet valve secured into the upper portion of -the casing 9 adjacent to the stationary portion of the stops 74, 7 4' to permit regulation of the extent of valve opening. Its stem 121 passes througha guiding aperture at' its head, and to assure a free assage of air when the valve is opened, 1s flattened on three sides as indicated at 122, 122. It is in the line of forward travel of a In 123 carried on the driving yoke 71 by which means In this connection the -stop 7 4,74 has the additional function to that above mentioned of preventing the ceiving the thrust from the driving yoke 71. (See Figs. 4'and 5.) The chamber'of the pilot valve connects with the equalizing reser oir and equalizing piston chamber 19 by pipes 124, 154 and 32 and is illustrated-as 80 connected through an additional part 177,

pilot valve head 120 by rewhich as above set forth may be disregarded for the purposes of this divisional application, pipes 12.4 and 154 being 'assumed as in direct communication with each other.

The pilot valve 119 is so positioned and adjusted that when the driving yoke complctes the movement of the rotary valve to lap position, it opens the pilot valve the desired amount to efiect the operation of the equalizing piston 21 through reduction of air pressure above it, so that any appreciable clockwise movement of the driving yoke from its then position, as for example when the engineer's handle is moved from lap position toward running or release position. permits the valve to close instantly under its own pressure.

Considering the operation of the engineers automatic valve head, in Fig. 3 where all the parts are shown in running position, the pins 72, 72 of the driving yoke are shown out of contact with the radial arms of the driving yoke 73. If the engineers handle is moved clockwise to release positionthese radial arms will engage the pins of the driving yoke; so the latter will be thrown clockwise, if not already in their extreme position of that movement. This position is shown in Fig. 3 where the pistons 69, 69 are in their rearward position, in readiness for a pneumatic drive. Due to the single direction drive, the pistons and driving yoke are not moved by counter-clockwise motion of the brake handle. Therefore, when the arts of the engineers automatic valve hea are free from automatic action, the engineer has the entire sweep of his sector, and can with perfect freedom and without interference manipulate his brake handle and apply and release his brakes in the ordinary manner.

Automatic application of the brakes is normally initiated when the parts are in the position shown in Fig. 3, that is with the engineers valve in running position. Assuming the parts in that position, if the circuit to the solenoid 99 is closed, as is the case when and at the time the armature 452 is moved past an active track magnet 320, with switch 497 closed and the brakes are to be automatically'applied, the armature 96 will be drawn downward into the solenoid and place the controlling valve 80 in its power supplying position by means of the operating arm 95; pressure air will then be admitted through the controlling valve, as above described, into the motor cylinders 68, 68, and will thrust the pistons outward and rotate the driving yoke 71 counterclockwise. driving yoke will then engage and rotate the radial armsof the driven yoke, which in turn will move the rotary valve to lap osition, and finally the driving yoke at the imit of its motion will open the normally closed The pins 72, 72 on the 'ton chamber.

pilot valve 119. The opening valve in turn automatically plication of the brakesby m equalizing reservoir of the pilot effects the apreducing pressureand equalizing pisother the friction of the rotary valve on its face, and of the rotary valve spindle against its air seat; which friction will vary about directly as the air pressure. These forces are to be taken into' consideration in ad justing thethrottlin valve 90, the adjustment of which shoul be such that while the rotary valve is automatically moved to lap position, it is not done so with such a s .eed that its momentum carries it beyond at position. j When the solenoid circuit is deenergized the armature 96 is'relieved from magnetic pull and is raised to its free position by the controlling valve 80,, which then cuts off pressure air from the motor cylinders and opgns them to atmosphere in the manner vs described, but this causes no movement of the rotary valve from its then lap.

position, and consequently the brakes .onc'e manually release automatically ap l1ed are held so until I d by the engineers brake handle bein moved ordinarily into release position. T is notv only releases the brakes,

' but restores the motor pistons 'and driving yoke to the sition illustrated in Fig. 3

n readiness or a second automatic application.

During automatic .braking, the rotary valve is capable of manual movement to either extreme position of its sector, its movement toward release position being 'opposed and hindered by the pressure in the motor cylinders 68, 68", while perfect freedom is given such movement to a further brake applying position.

The term vehicle 1s used herein as desig-. nat'mg not only a single vehicle but a pin;

rality of them when. assembled in a train.

The foregoing detailed description has been given for clearness of understanding. and no undue limitation should be deduced therefrom, but the appended claims shouldbe construed as broadly as permissible in view of the prior art. U

Having thus described my invention, what I claimand desire to secure by .Letters Pattent is:-

1. The combination with a track and a vehicle moving thereon, of a brake system including an engineers valve, and means located along the track and upon the vehic'le for placing the engineers valve in lap position and at the same time effecting a reduction of air tem.

pasta'isaea km.

2. The combination with a track and a vehicle moving thereon,of a brake system including an engineers valve'having manual movement to extreme positions, and means located along the track and upon the vehicle for placing the engineers valve in an intermediate position and'at the same time effecting a reduction of pressure in the brake system, said means being ineffective to place said valve in any other position.

3. The combination with a track and a vehicle moving thereon, of a brake system. including an engineers valve having manual movement to charging and a plurality of non-charg1ng positions,'some of which are braking positions, and means located along the track and upon the vehicle for placing movement to extreme positions, and means located along the track and upon'the vehicle 1 for placing tl1 e engineers valve in an in termedlate position and at the same time effectlng a reduction of pressure in the brake system and means for forestallingthe slice tive operation of said last-named means.-

5. Ina train brake system, the combina-. ation with an engineers valve and a brake pipe, of means for throwing su'ch valve to lap position and permitting escape of air from the brake, pipe 6. In a train brake system, the combiirw tion with a-brake pipe, an engineer s valve and means for manually moving the same, of means for automatically placing the'en-' gineers valve only in an intermediate non= charging position and for permitting the escape of air from the brake pipe.

7. In a train brake system, the combination. with an engineers valve and a brake pipe, of a valve for permitting escapeof air from the brake pipe, and means for opening the escape valve and 'moving the engineers valve to lap position.

8. In a train brake system, the combine the same between extreme positions, of avalve permitting escape of air from the brake pipe, and means actuated from the track for automatically moving the engineers rotary valve to an intermediate noncharging position and opening the escape valve, said means being ineffective to move the en-- engineers rotary valve to anyother position.

9. Ina train brake system, the combination with an engineers valve and a brake position.

- ing, lap, and braking positions, 'ofmechair ically operated means for moving such .valve to lap position and retaining it there independent of manual 'movement of the valve to such position.

' 11. The combination with an engineers valve having manual movement to extremes ofcharging and non-charging positions, of

' 12. The combination'wi'th an engineers mechanically operated means for moving such valve toan intermediatenon char ing position and retain ng t-there indepen ent of manual movement to such position.

valve having manual movement to charging,

' lap,and braking-positions, of mechanically operated means for moving such valve to lap position and retaining "it there independent of manual movement of the valve to such position but sub'ect' to manual movement of the valve to ot er positions. I

13. An engineers valve having' ma'nual movement between extreme positions, in

combination with pneumatic means -elec- F trically controlled and operable for moving such valve to an intermediate position only.- 14. An engineers valve having manual movement 'to charging, lap, and braking positions, in combination with pneumatic means operable only for moving such valve from a chargingposition'to lap position.

' '15. An engineers valve having manual movement to charging positions and a plurality ofnon-charging positions, in combinationwith pneumatic means operable for, moving suchvalve only from a charg ng position 1 to b an intermediatenon-charging ject to control. by the engineer in manual movement of the valve to a. charging position and operable only for moving such valve from a charging to 'a' la position.

17.v An engineers valve aving manual movement .to a charging PQSii'JOD BJId a lurality of non-chargin positions, in comination' with means su ject'to 'controlby.

the engineer in manual movement of the valve to a chargingposition and. operable only formoving such valve from a charging position to an intermediate non-charging position. P '18. An engineers valve having manual movement to charging, lap, and braking positions, in combination with means Sub ect to control by the engineer in" manual moveengineersvalveliavin manual- 4 movement to charging, lap, an braking positions, in combination with means sub-4 'ment of the valve to a'charging' position and operable only for moving such valve from a charging to a lap position while leaving it free fOl1,Ill1Illltl movement 'to a' braking position.

19. An cngineeps valve having manual movement to a charging position and a plurality of non-charging positions, certain of the last named positions at least being braking positions, in COlTlblIllltlOIl with means subject tocontrol by the engineer in manual movement of the valve to a charging posi tion and'operable only to move said valve from a charging position to an intermediate non-charging position, vvhileleaving said valve free for manual movement to a further non-charging and braking position.

20. -An fengineersvalve having manual movement to a charging position and a plurality of non-charging positions certain of which at least are braking ositions, in combination with means opera 1e only for moving such valve from a charging to a noncharging position, while leaving it fiee for manual movement to a further non-charging position which is a braking osition.

21; An engineers valve aving manual movement to a chargingi and a plurality of non-chargin lpositions,-in combination with means opera e only for moving such valve from a charging to a non-charging position, while leaving it free for manual movement to another non-char ing position.

22. In a trainbra e system, the combination with an engineers valve having manual movement to charging, lap, and braking positions, of. mechanically operated means operable only-for moving such valve from c arging to lap position, and'means actuated by suchilast named movement of the. valve to lap position for effecting a brakeapplicw tion.w

23. In a tion with anengin'eers valve having man-' ual movementto charging-and non-charging' positions, of mechanical'ly .0 erated from a c arging to anon-charging position, and for initiating a" brake ap lication, said last named i'neans 'beingine ective to prevent the manual movement of the engineersvalve-to a further non-charging position.

' 24. Ina train brake-system, the combination with an engineers valve having manual movement to charging, 113115,. and braking positions, of mechanically operated means operable only formoving such valve from train brake system, the 'comb ina means 0 'er'able onlyfor moving su I valve I a char ing to lap position, and means controlled y thefirst named-means for effecting a brake application.

I 25'. In atrain brake system-, the' combination with an engineersvalve having manual' movementlto charging, lap, and bra-king positions, of means subject to controlby' the engineer in manual movement of, the

' tion with a brake pipe,

' tion with an engineers valve havin .the b valve to a charging position and operable only for moving. such valve from a charging charging position, means for automatically throwing the engineers rotary valve to the same non-charging position, and means for actuating the supplemental valve.

27 In a train brake system, the combina-- tion With an 'engineers valve having a service exhaust port and a manually controlled pilot exhaust port for efiecting the operation of the service exhaust port, of. a pilot ex haust port automatically opened to effect the operatlon of the service exhaust port and means for automatically opening said last named pilot exhaust port.

28. In a brake control system, in combina- 1 chargan an exing and non-char ing positions anequahzmg pishaust port controlled ton, manually controlle means for exhausthaust "port,

nation with .55 exhaust port,

- exhaust mg air from one side of saidpiston'to eflect an opening of the'exhaust port, automatic m'eansfor exhausting air from the same side of said equalizing piston and means for actuating said automatic means including a uni directional driving member adapted when operated to place the engineers valve in an intermediate non-charging position.

tion with an of a pilot exhaust port which when opened effects an opening of 'thefirst named exhaust port, means for manually moving the engineers valve to open the first named exhaust port, and means for auto-' matlcally moving the engmeers valve on, the occurrence of a danger condition to the pilot exhaust an engineerls valve of a pilotexhaust when opened efie'ctsfan opening named exhaust port, means-fior -nianually movi'ngthe engineers valve to open the first named-exhaust port, and electrically con-. trolled. pneumatically actuated means for moving-the engineers valve on the occura danger condition to open the pilot a port and thereby 'efi'ectan opening" 0f thefirst named exhaust port.

31. In aitrai'n" control system, the combirence of nationof a brake pipe andanp engineers the brakepipe, a'coil for one electrical condition the operation of said moving said openport and thereby effect an 'openin ohthe first named exhaust port.

valve having manual movementto charging and a plurality of non-charging positions, means for mechanically moving said engineers valve to position and for reducing the pressure in initiating when in means, cooperating inductive means on the train and I along the track for causing changes in the electrical condition of said coil, and means acting when operated at the time of the joint action of the said cooperatan intermediate non-charging ing means for nullifying such action cand -{11" tion of said 0011. v v. 1 32. 'In:a train control system, the combination of an engineers valve having manual movement to extreme positions, means for mechanically moving said valve only to an intermediate position while permitting free manual movement thereof in the same direction to a further position, and cooperating means'on the track and on the train for initiating the operation of said means.

33. In a train control system in combination with a brake pipe and an engineers brake valve, manually operated means for valve between extreme positions, pneumatically operated means for moving said valve only to an intermediate position and for causing a reduction of pressure in the brake pipe, a valve for actuating said pneumatic trolling said valve, a coil for controlling the circuit of said first named coil, cooperating means upon the trainand upon the track controlling the condition of said last named coil, and manually' operable means for restoringsaid coils to their normal i condition. 29. In a tram brake system, the combma- I englneers valve having an ex 34.-'"An 'eng'ineers valve' having. manual movement between extreme sition, in combination with automatic iii-eke applying means includin means operable only for tron.

' oving. such va ve to an intermediate posimovem -nt to "charging,filap," an 1 ipplying means including meansoper-K charging position to lap position.

engineers valve havin movement to charging positional:

ity of noncharging pos tions, in combination with automatic brake applying means ineluding means operable for moving such valve only from a-charging position (can intermediate nonchar 'ing position.

37. In a tram br esystem, the, combination with a brake pi e, an engineers valve y'movmg the same, of means for automatically placmgthe england means for manual neers'valve only in an intermediate noncharging position and for permitting the.

preventing a change in the electrical;-condi manual a 'luralmeans, a coil for con- 35.- Anfngineeris gvalve havin manual I braking positions, in combination" with automatic .brake v able 0 n a .train brake system, the comb1- 1. havin an port w ioh 0f the-first.

formovinglsuch valve from a r i niitiun with abrakepi and means for of means for automatically placing the ene scape ofair from the brskefpipe 'andqtiiermanualiy operable'means or] orestllhng the opergtion of th last-named means.

' 38. In attain brake manna ly mov'in the same,

gineers valve only in an intermediate new Lia device. 7 39, In ;a brake control a m in oombi-' nation with an 'eng1nee1s vui chm-gin sition nnd for rmitting the escape 0% a l from the brake p i pe, said means mmually system, the 'combi: an engineers valve:

of said eqiializing piston,

cause the v0 havingcharg -ing 'ai nd nbnchazf ngpoeitiona andf exhaust portqqntrdll by imequalizing.pi's

haustttpn, manuallycbntrolld means for .ex anopening of the exhaust' x rti automatic means for exhaustingaiif from the same side ing said nutomatic means including a unimeansfor actuah 25- directional driving member adapted when operated to manually operable means for forestalling the operation of said automatic means Signed at New York, N. Y., this 29th day of September, 1925. a I

place the engineers .va lve in an intermediate nonchargmg position, and

FRANK J. SPRAGUE. i 4

20 ing air from one-side of saidpiston to efiect 

